Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 10.27.11With all the hunting and trapping activity, fishing has been slower, but some very good reports are coming in from anglers who are still fishing. Water temperatures have now dropped into the low 50s and upper 40s on northern lakes, and many lakes either have or are turning over. Musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure, with nearly all having switched to live suckers now. Some very good crappie and bluegill action is also being reported on the backwaters of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.
Water flows on Lake Michigan tributaries have been kept pretty constant with some timely rains, but levels have now been dropping. This has helped to extend the fish run through October. Salmon were still being reported in most tributaries this week, but numbers have been declining. Egg collection at spawning facilities is coming to a close, after a very successful year.
DNR fish crews netting sturgeon on the Wisconsin River below the Prairie du Sac Dam this week pulled in a 46-and-a-half pound bighead carp, an invasive fish. This is the second bighead carp documented on the Lower Wisconsin River. Bighead carp are a concern because they eat plankton and can potentially decrease populations of native fish and mussels.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties)
Some nice fall weather has made for some very good fishing conditions in the last week, but fishing pressure has remained relatively low with the multitude of other hunting and recreational opportunities across the north. Water temperatures have now dropped into the low 50s and upper 40s. Musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure on our local lakes and their success has been quite variable. Nearly all of the musky anglers have switched to live suckers now and this has been the most successful method for finding fish. The medium to large-size suckers have been the preferred bait in the last couple weeks and most of the musky caught have been in the 32 to 40-inch size. Some anglers are still tossing artificial baits but their action has been especially slow with the colder water temperatures. There has been a slight surge in crappie and perch action with a couple reports of nice fish being found near the mid-depth cover, such as emergent weed lines and brush in 4 to 8 feet of water. Walleye success continues to be generally slow with only a few reports of catches being made.
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area Despite the fact that the fall colors are now limited, it?s still a great time to get out and enjoy the splendor of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, as well as the recreational opportunities found within the area. Hunting interest continues to peak with the onset of cooler temperatures and increased game activity. Fishing on the flowage continues to be good, with reports of nice walleye and musky being caught. Currently the water level on the flowage is at 1,569.0 feet, 3.0 feet below full pool. Remember to take your time on the flowage and enjoy the beauty it has to offer!
Oconto County Anglers at Stiles Dam were still enjoying some nice catches of bluegill and crappie fishing with red worms and minnows respectively and slip bobbers. Salmon and trout are being caught on the Oconto River from the Highway 141 bridge up to the Stiles Dam floating flies or casting small spoons and stick baits. Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II anglers were catching perch in the boat landing areas using slip bobbers and minnows or crappie rigs. Walleye anglers fishing the bay from the parks have been having little success.
Marinette County Anglers at the Peshtigo Dam have been catching a mixed bag with some nice pike being caught casting spoons below the silver bridge. Some Salmon and trout are also being caught drifting spawn or drifting yarn fly's. Little River continues to produce some nice salmon using spawn sacks, morning has been the best time. Anglers at the dam on the Menominee are still catching some browns and salmon casting lures and drifting spawn. A few walleye are being caught from the anglers's walkway mainly at night using stick baits.
Oconto County Anglers at Stiles Dam were still enjoying some nice catches of bluegill and crappie fishing with red worms and minnows respectively and slip bobbers. Salmon and trout are being caught on the Oconto River from the Highway 141 bridge up to the Stiles Dam floating flies or casting small spoons and stick baits. Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II anglers were catching perch in the boat landing areas using slip bobbers and minnows or crappie rigs. Walleye anglers fishing the bay from the parks have been having little success.
Shawano County Good numbers of waterfowl are in the area with ducks and geese, pushed down from the north in the last week. Lots of northern mallards have been seen working the recently harvested corn fields along with large flocks of geese. Deer are really starting to move with bucks being seen during day light hours and the start of the rut. Archers are hunting hard in an attempt at that trophy. Nice bucks have been taken in the area, some utilizing grunt calls to attract bucks. Pheasants are in good supply. Most hunters are after deer so you would have the duck marshes of pheasant fields to yourself. The leaves have almost completely fallen and lakes have turned over providing. Fishing activity has slowed on area waters due to lake turnover.
Green Bay The weather this week put a damper on fishing. There was little to no fishing pressure throughout the area. Although, once the winds calmed down and the sun came out this weekend so did the anglers.
Brown County Walleyes were being caught in good numbers on the Fox River by anglers casting crank baits at night by the dam. Anglers were catching some walleye jigging the river channel during the day. Walleye anglers reported catching catfish, white bass, and a few perch as well. Anglers trolling for musky were finding it hit or miss over the last week or so trolling the river or lower bay. Bayshore Park anglers fishing for perch did well this weekend. Most anglers were targeting perch in 15-20 feet of water. Minnows on bottom have been the bait of choice as usual. Anglers trolling crank baits in 15-20 feet of water are catching a few walleyes.
Manitowoc County Strong west winds at 20-30 mph last week switched northerly with gusts to 45 mph through last Thursday. Light westerly winds at 5-10 mph allowed for calm conditions for the remainder of the weekend. Temperatures throughout the week hung around the mid-40s, rising to the mid-50s over the weekend. Water levels remain very low with great water clarity in the tributaries, but that may change after thunderstorms went through the area late Sunday. Water temperatures for boaters ranged from 49-52 degrees near shore out to 200 feet of water. Water temperatures in the tributaries ranged from 52-56 degrees. The Manitowoc piers began showing signs of better fishing, with more and more rainbow trout being landed floating spawn or using it on the bottom. Anglers have also been using green/silver and orange/silver cleos. The Manitowoc marina slowed this week, with only a few dark chinook salmon and small rainbow trout caught during the heavy winds early in the week using spawn or night crawlers. Angler success continues to be slow near the dams on the tributaries. Fly fishers have had the most luck, but others using large sinkers/bell sinkers with spawn, ear plugs, cookie dough, yarn/yarn flies, etc. have landed a few legally hooked chinook salmon 10-15 pounds. Most of the chinook are very dark and are beginning to turn white on parts of the fish. A very small number of brown and rainbow trout have been seen or caught in the tributaries. This week, Manitowoc Rapids off of Mill Road on the Manitowoc River, the Shoto dam on the West Twin River, and the Mishicot dam on the East Twin River remain the best locations to catch chinook salmon and brown and rainbow trout. Several boats made it out over the weekend with the calm west winds. Little numbers were seen from the boats trolling the pier heads for trout and those trying out to 200 feet. Currently, the best bet is to try in 80-120 feet using dodger/fly combos down deep on your down riggers for 2-3 year old chinook salmon. Bucks are busy making scrapes and squaring off with each other. About 80 percent of leaf cover on trees has dropped. Raccoon activity at night has become a lot more evident due to corn being harvested from many fields.
Door County Fishing has been limited to days when the wind isn't creating a small craft or gale advisory, very windy as of late. Perch fishing was good this weekend at Little Sturgeon Bay with a few limits reported being caught on Saturday. Most anglers are finding perch in 10-15 feet of water. Minnows on bottom rigs are producing the best catches. Also, northern pike were being caught by anglers casting spoons or large stick baits. A few pike are being caught while trolling. Waterfowl hunting for the most part, is or will soon be, in full swing in many Door County areas with good numbers of ducks and geese. Archery deer hunters are becoming more active with the rut on its way. Good numbers of turkeys, both hens and toms observed along with an unusual number of very small young of the year turkeys observed.
Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/hatchery/strawberrycreek.htmlOn a blustery Thursday last week, crews wrapped up a very successful chinook spawning season at the Strawberry Creek Weir, handling about 675 fish and emptying the pond the only time this year. The crew from the Wild Rose Hatchery made a final collection of 336,000 eggs. All things considered the chinook return at Strawberry took a very positive turn after generally declining trends of numbers and size of fish returning to the weir. Crews handled approximately 5,400 chinook over six harvest days this season. The hatchery system collected about 2.3 million eggs for next year's chinook stocking efforts. The improved physical condition of the fish has yet to be quantified by was quite evident while handling fish throughout the run. The average size of eggs increased considerably this year from last year, another encouraging sign. Although some increased numbers of fish stocked at Strawberry Creek the last couple years can account for some of the increase in returns, the remainder is simply a higher proportion of fish returning. Barring any negative results from fish health exams (results from cultures, etc will come in later this fall), I think we can be very satisfied with this year's chinook run.
Kewaunee County The salmon run has slowed down, but salmon are still present and available to be caught. The Ahnapee River remains low. Canada geese are abundant and more corn is coming off the fields every day making for a goose hunter?s paradise. Pheasants are being stocked weekly on State Wildlife areas and hunters are taking full advantage of the stocked birds but the public hunting grounds are a bit congested in the morning hours.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County In Sheboygan fishing pressure on the Sheboygan River has been fairly light, and catches have been hit or miss over the last few days. Most anglers have been targeting the deeper pools, as the fish density has declined recently. Fly anglers continue to have the best luck drifting lures, but some fish have been caught on spoons. Chinooks and coho have made up the majority of the catch. The Sheboygan River water is clear and 48 degrees, and the flow remains low.
Ozaukee County In Port Washington trollers had better fishing conditions this past weekend, but catches have been spotty. Most success came in 120 to 140 feet of water, and spoons fished off the downriggers have produced the best. A mixed bag of brown trout, rainbow trout, and chinook salmon has been taken. In the Port Washington harbor, shore anglers have taken chinook and coho by casting spoons and crankbaits or by using spawn. Many anglers have reported decent catches, but say that the fish are in relatively poor condition due to spawning stress. The harbor water is clear and 52 degrees. Fishing has been generally slow off the Port pier, but a few chinook have been taken on spoons. Some fish remain in Sauk Creek in the deeper pools. Flows are still low and the temperature is 48 degrees.
Milwaukee County In Milwaukee, the majority of fishing pressure remains in the rivers, however, shore anglers in the harbor have taken some chinook near McKinley Marina and the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Fresh skein has taken the most fish in that area. Water levels are low on all Milwaukee area tributaries. In the Milwaukee River, fly anglers have been catching decent numbers of salmon in Kletzsch Park and in the vicinity of Capitol Drive. Egg sucking leeches have produced. Good numbers of fish have also moved into the Menomonee River near Miller Park and towards the Miller Brewery. In Oak Creek some mature salmon are present in the deeper holes below the dam. Trollers working near the harbor have been catching mature chinook on J-plugs. When trollers can get offshore from Milwaukee, immature chinook, coho, and rainbows have been taken on flashers and flies fished about 20 to 40 feet down in 120 to 160 feet of water.
Racine County Shore anglers in Racine have been able to catch a few chinook and coho on spawn, and the area inside the harbor near the Root River has had the most action. Water levels on the Root are low, but anglers continue to catch chinook and coho. Most fish have been taken on flies, and the majority of fishing pressure has been in Lincoln Park. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, Oct. 24. So far this season DNR crews passed upstream a total of 1,343 chinook, 388 coho, 18 brown trout, and 1 rainbow trout. Fish will be processed again on Thursday, Oct. 27.
Kenosha County Shore fishing in Kenosha has been generally slow, but occasional chinook and browns have been taken in the harbor and off the south pier. Most fish were caught on spawn. Flows on the Pike River are low, and although chinook can be seen in the river near the mouth, fishing remains slow.
Kenosha County Fishing activity for salmon in the Pike River continues to slow down as the bulk of the fall spawning run is over. Anglers are still reporting catching salmon but the mouth of the river is no longer open to allow fish upstream.
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Cooler weather is starting to set in and fall colors are past peak and many leaves are completely off the trees. While the panoramic colors are no longer a sight in the Riverway the loss of leaf cover and the die back of understory plants makes for easy and enjoyable navigation of the woods. This is an excellent time of year to get out and take a different look at the Riverway. Revisit your favorite summer spot and gain a new perspective on the area. Paddlers can still enjoy a trip on the river, but please plan for changeable autumn weather. Portable restroom facilities have been removed for the season from all Riverway landings, and the Statz Memorial Canoe Landing just south of Sauk City will be closed for the season. The water is also off for the season at the Mazomanie Dog Trial Area. Water levels can vary on a daily basis. Before canoeing or boating please call 1-800-242-1077 for current river flow at the Prairie du Sac Dam. If flow rates are below 8,000 cubic feet per second the river is very shallow and navigation can become tricky. If rates are above 14,000 cfs sandbars begin to disappear, and camping location are difficult to find.
Minocqua area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htm
Lake Michigan Fishing Report and tips
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htm
Wausau Area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htm
Chippewa Flowage fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htm
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
